Melania Trump’s wardrobe sharply differs from those of her First Lady predecessors.
Instead of frequently donning American designers, Ms. Trump often chooses European labels well out of the price range of average Americans. But after the $52 Zara coat she donned (adorned with the text “I DON’T CARE, DO U?“) while visiting the US/Mexico border caused a public outcry, and her outfit choices on her recent trip to Africa proved her wardrobe as being the most controversial in First Lady history.
Scroll down for six of Melania Trump’s most controversial looks—ranked in order of the outrage they caused.
Sixth Most Controversial: April 2018
Melania wore a Michael Kors Collection suit during the second day of President Macron’s state visit, but it was her Hervé Pierre hat that had the world talking.
Some saw Michelle Pfeiffer in Scarface, others saw Beyoncé in the ‘Formation’ music video.
Fifth Most Controversial: May 2017
While Michelle Obama was critiqued for not wearing a headscarf during her state visit to Saudi Arabia, Melania was scathed for showing her legs during a visit to the conservative Arabian nation in 2017.
Fourth Most Controversial: October 2018
Amidst a tumultuous time for her husband’s administration, the First Lady departed to Africa on her first solo overseas trip. During a safari outing, her choice of a ‘pith’ helmet—an item of clothing with a dark colonial history in Africa—was seen to be controversial and insensitive.
The First Lady addressed the focus on her wardrobe throughout her trip, saying “I want to talk about my trip and not what I wear.”
Third Most Controversial: May 2017
During the 2017 G7 Summit in Sicily, Ms. Trump stepped out in a Dolce & Gabbana embroidered jacket worth $70,000—and unsurprisingly drew a barrage of controversy.
Second Most Controversial: September 2017
Leaving the White House to visit Hurricane Harvey victims in Puerto Rico in 2017, the First Lady was universally panned for her shoe choice.
Though she changed into a different outfit on the plane, wearing Manolo Blahnik pumps to a disaster zone was met with condemnation from both Republicans & Democrats alike.
Most Controversial: June 2018
In arguably the biggest fashion faux-pas in US political history, Ms. Trump deviated from her designer wardrobe to instead wear a Zara jacket reading “I REALLY DON’T CARE, DO U?” when visiting forcefully separated families at the US/Mexico border.
In what was first thought to be an unfortunate style faux-pas, President Trump took to Twitter to confirm that the headline-making outfit was, indeed, on purpose.
“”I REALLY DON’T CARE, DO U?” written on the back of Melania’s jacket, refers to the Fake News Media. Melania has learned how dishonest they are, and she truly no longer cares!” Trump posted this morning.
